The project is essential for four main reasons. First, experience in other countries, now rapidly developing new species like Atlantic cod, turbot, haddock and halibut, indicates the need for a new coldwater species to complement the existing salmon industry in Australia, which is facing significant challenges (see Background B2). Major stakeholders, the Tasmanian Government and Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association fully support the development of striped trumpeter as an alternative species, recognising that it is a long-term investment (Appendix 3 and 4). The Tasmanian Aquaculture RAG and TasFRAB have sanctioned the project as a top priority. Overcoming the striped trumpeter larval mortality bottleneck is identified in the Tasmanian Fisheries and Aquaculture Strategic Research Plan 2005-2009 as a high priority. Second, the project addresses the two objectives of the Aquafin CRC, Production Subprogram (Subprogram Hatchery Technology) by increasing the availability of species suitable for aquaculture and improving the quality of fingerlings for farm stocking. It also potentially fills an expertise gap for the CRC following the Tuna Propagation Program demise by further developing a team capable of tackling difficult to rear marine fish and tapping into research institution in-kind contributions. The Aquafin CRC Board and JMAC has requested the submission of the proposal. Third, there is an identified need for the research at a generic level where there is a necessity for both, a more systematic way to match the nutritional profile of live feeds with the requirements of new species of marine larvae (FRDC Hatchery Feeds R&D Plan high priority), and the development of system design and probiotics for the control of disease or improved health of hatchery and farmed aquatic animals (key area for research (7.2.2) in the Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram Strategic R&D Plan 2002-2007). Fourth, it facilitates capacity building and collaboration among the key institutions developing new marine species and an excellent training opportunity for post-graduate students, hatchery technicians and scientists.
Project number:
2004-221
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$1,199,315.03
Principal Investigator:
Stephen Battaglene
Organisation:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date:
29 Jun 2004
-
31 Jul 2008
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
1. Investigate the control of microbial communities in intensive larval fish culture using ozonation and probiotics.
2. Determine the optimal environmental parameters, and water quality systems and tank design for reducing hatchery mortality and malformations in finfish larvae.
3. To better understand "grey gut syndrome" and the ontogeny of the immune system, including linkages to developments with probionts and immunostimulants.
4. Evaluate formulated diets and their use in early weaning.
5. Evaluate the growth and survival of striped trumpeter post-larvae and juveniles reared under semi-commercial conditions.
6. Evaluate the possibility for the culture of striped trumpeter using alternative systems and/or sites.
